72
of the line, by withdrawing the locomotives and other rolling stock to the vicinity of Sydney, and, if necessary, by interrupting it, which could be easily done by breaking down the bridge over the Mira River.
73
No. 151.
(Confidential.) Sir,
Admiral Sir A. Milne, Bart., G.C.B., to Colonial Office.
I have, &c. (Signed)
ALEX. MILNE, President.
(Secret and Confidential.) Sir,
No. 149.
War Office to Colonial Office.
Surveyor-General's Department, War Office, June 1, 1878. IN reply to your letter dated the 30th ultimo,* requesting to be informed when the guns recommended by the Colonial Defence Committee for the Straits Settlements may be expected to reach the Colony, I am directed by Secretary Colonel Stanley to acquaint you, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonics, that six guns, with carriages and slides and half the projectiles, are being shipped in the sailing ship "Lansdowne," appointed to sail from London on the 15th instant, and that four guns, with carriages, slides, small stores, and the other half of the projectiles, will be shipped in steamer to sail shortly.
I have, &c. (For Director of Artillery and Stores),
(Signed)
No. 150.
W. H. GOODENOUGH.
Admiral Sir A. Milne, Bart., G.C.B., to Colonial Office.
(Secret and Confidential.) Sir,
Committee Room, Whitehall, June 1, 1878.
1 AM requested by the Colonial Defence Committee to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 8th May,† inclosing, for the consideration of the Committee, a copy of a despatch from the Governor of Heligoland, in which he urges a reconsideration of the question of the defence of that island.
The Committee having had this despatch under consideration, as well as the former despatch from the Governor of the 16th April,‡ are unable to see any reason for altering their opinion as expressed in their report forwarded to you on the 17th April last,§ and cannot concur with his Excelleney that it is advisable to erect a permanent work for a couple of heavy 25-ton guns on Sandy Island for the protection of the roadstead. Such a work would not only be very costly in construction, but would require a permanent garrison for its defence, and after all would not afford security to ships lying in the roadstead against the long ranged artillery with which an enemy's ships would now be armed.
The population and resources of the island are in themselves so limited, that the Committee cannot recommend so great a development of means as urged by the Governor for their defence, especially as when constructed, they would not afford security against distant bombardment.
As the Governor is of opinion that the cut in the steps leading to the upper town, with a moveable bridge, recommended by the Committee, would be difficult to effect, and advises other measures connected with the steps which, however, he does not specify, the Committee are of opinion that the simplest course would be to send an officer of the Royal Engineers over to the island to confer with the Governor, and after ascertaining his views, to report on the best means of protecting the approach to the upper from the lower town, which was the object the Committee had in view in their recommendation.
I have, &c. (Signed) ALEX. MILNE, President.
+ No. 75 of Miscellaneous, 35 E.
• No. 146.
Not priated. Office registry number 4944, Heligoland. $ Miscellaneous, No. 35 C.
Committee Room, Whitehall, June 1, 1878.
I AM requested by the Colonial Defence Committee to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 22nd May,|| inclosing a copy of a despatch which the Secretary of State for the Colonies has addressed to the Governors of South Australia and Western Australia relative to the measures to be taken in the event of war for the conveyance of the West Australian mails, and for the disposal of the coal at King George's Sound.
I am to state in reply that the Committee are of opinion that it is desirable that the Peninsular and Oriental Company should reduce their stock of coal to the least possible amount consistent with the absolute requirements of the mail service, and that during war a record should be kept by some Colonial authority on the spot of the amount always in store, in case it should become necessary to destroy it.
They would also recommend that on the appearance of a cruizer of any Power at war with Great Britain off the port, with the intention of entering, the resident magistrate should be empowered to order the stock of coal to be destroyed.
With regard to the second paragraph of your letter, having reference to the defence of Fremantle and the entrance of the Swan River, I am requested to say that the Com- mittee doubt whether there is any necessity for defence, looking to the smallness of the population of the Colony and the absence of inducements to attack. But if the Colony desires that some defence should be organized, it would appear sufficient for the purpose of warding off any attack by a casual cruizer to provide two-ton guns and two 64-pounders, and to place them in battery on Arthur Head.
But before sending out these guns, as there is no organized military force at present in the Colony, it would be necessary to ascertain whether the Colonial Government will be prepared to raise and maintain the requisite number of men for manning the guns, and for the defence of the position. This force would require to consist of about fifty artillerymen, and as large a body of infantry as can be enrolled.
The cost of the suggested armaments and works is estimated as follows:-
Two 7-ton guns complete
Two 64-pounder guns
Batterics, magazines, &e.
..
··
£
2,000
1,200
2,400
£5,600
ALEX. MILNE, President.
Total
I have, &c.
(Signed)
No. 152.
The Right Hon. Sir M. E. Hicks Beach, Bart., to the Governor of the Straits Settlements
(Telegraphic. Paraphrase.)
Downing Street, June 3, 1878. ON the 15th June six guns and half of the projectiles will leave London by sailing- vessel; the four guns, with the small stores and the remainder of the projectiles, will shortly follow by steamer.
No. 153.
K.C.M.G.
The Right Hon. Sir M. E. Hicks Beach, Bart., to Governor Sir J. R. Longden, K.C.M.Ç. (Secret.)
Sir,
•
Downing Street, June 4, 1878.
I REFERRED to the Colonial Defence Committee your Secret despatch of the 23rd April last, detailing the defensive measures which are being carried out by the military authorities of Ceylon for the protection of the principal ports of the island, and I have now the honour to state that I have received a communication from the Committee in reply, to the effect that they understand that the subject is being dealt with at the War Office, and that instructions are being prepared to give effect to their recommendations.
• No. 120 of Miscellaneous, 35 E.
[703]
+ No. 114 of Miscellaneous, 35 E.
D
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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
PEPLLC.O. 885
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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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